Door handles, notably for vehicles

ABSTRACT

This door handle for automotive vehicle comprises a casing fitting in the door panel structure and an opening tongue pivotally mounted within said casing.

The present invention relates to automotive door handles and hasspecific reference to internal door handles of the so-called flushfitting type adapted to minimize the risks of causing injuries to thepassengers of the vehicle in case of crash.

The inner door handle according to this invention is disposed in theforward portion of the door panel and incorporated in the doorstructure.

The present trend in the field of devices for controlling the opening ofdoors of motor vehicles is towards a certain miniaturization. The effortnecessary for opening a vehicle door has been reduced considerably dueto the increased flexibility of the door locks, so that only one or twofingers are sufficient for operating the opening lever or handle. Moderndoor locks comprise a relatively great number of assembled partsincluding essentially the means for fixing the pivot pins and shafts, acontrol rod, a return spring, an opening handle, a support secured tothe door panel structure before upholstering the door, and an ornamentalelement for concealing this support after the upholstering operation.

It is the essential object of the structure of the present invention tomeet the following requirements:

- Simplicity: It comprises only three main component elements, i.e. ahandle, a casing, a rod;

- Shorter assembling time: The complete assembly is fitted in positionby using only snap-on means, i.e. without resorting to any fasteningmembers;

- Safety: The fluid-fitting assembly is incorporated in the hollow doorpanel, and

- Fluid-tightness.

The attached drawing illustrates diagrammatically by way of example atypical form of embodiment of the door handle arrangement of thisinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the flush-fittingdoor handle casing with its opening tongue, and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross section showing the mounting of the casingin the door panel and the arrangment of the opening tongue in thecasing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view. The casing is shown with thehandle upward and outside of the casing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the casing showing the rod 5. Thetraction force exerted by rod 5 tends to oppose the disjointing of thetrunnions out from the bearings.

Referring to the drawing, the door handle design according to thisinvention is particularly simple and comprises essentially a casing 1positioned and snapped in the door panel structure 2 by snap engagingmember 14, and an opening tongue or handle 3 consisting of a two-armedlever pivotally mounted in the casing 1 and comprising a fulcrum pin 4trunnioned and snapped in position in a bearing 12 of said casing 1. InFIG. 1, the tongue 3 is shown diagrammatically as being connectedthrough a pair of parallel arms 3¹ to the gripping lug 3². A rod 5interconnecting the opening tongue 3 and the door lock (not shown) ispivotally mounted by means of a pin 6 carried by the inner and shorterarm 3³ of the control handle; this handle is shown in two positions:i.e. the lock opening position (in phantom lines in FIG. 2) in which itprojects from the casing 1 and the closed position (in thick lines) inwhich it is flush with the flange surrounding the casing 1. The controlrod 5 is adapted to slide through a sealing grommet 7 bearing freelyagainst the casing 1. A return spring 8 slipped on the rod 5 reacts withone end against said grommet 7 and with the other end against a washer 9retained by a cross pin on said rod 5.

The reference numeral 10 designates the internal upholstery of the door.

This flush-type door handle assembly is fitted as follows to the door:

Before upholstering the inner surface of the door structure, the lock ismounted therein together with its control rod 5 complete with the returnspring 8 and the washer 7 retaining same. Upon completion of theupholstering operation, the casing 1 is engaged through thecorresponding aperture and snapped in position in the door structure.The opening tongue 3 is connected to the rod 5 and then inserted intothe casing 1 in which it is retained by snap-on elements of conventionaltype.

Thus, when the opening tongue is operated by pulling same with one ortwo fingers the rod 5 is moved in the axial direction and actuates thedoor lock control arm pivoted to the lock plate, the spring 8 constantlyurging the assembly to its initial position.

Of course, various modifications may be brought to the specific form ofembodiment shown and described herein, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A single unit door handle assembly for snap fastening in thedoor of a motor vehicle comprising a casing with means adapted to snapsaid casing in the door panel structure, bearing means provided in saidcasing, an opening tongue mounted inside said casing with means toengage a control element connected to the door latch, said tongue havingintegral trunnions for engaging in said bearing means.
 2. A door handleassembly according to claim 1 wherein said opening tongue is pivotted insaid bearing means provided in said casing and said means to engage acontrol element comprises a pivot pin on said opening tongue forengagement with the control rod which is connected to the door latch andwhich is surrounded by a coil compression return spring.
 3. A doorhandle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said opening tongue has agripping lug connected by a pair of arms.
 4. A door handle assemblyaccording to claim 2 wherein said opening tongue has a gripping lugconnected by a pair of arms.